Landowners should block ‘Go Vegan’ adverts

ICSA president Dermot Kelleher has called on all landowners to block any more adverts from Go Vegan World on billboards on their land.

“Farmers are really annoyed at the diesel-powered Dublin buses advertising campaign against Irish farming, being run by the Go Vegan World group,” he said.

“However, for too long now, billboards around the country have been used to disseminate the anti-farming propaganda and it is time for rural Ireland to stop facilitating this. Many of these billboards are erected on land near motorways and it is time for the landowners to call a halt”.

Mr Kelleher has also called for transparency around who is actually bankrolling these Go Vegan World campaigns.

“It is crystal clear that millions of euros are flowing into Ireland to fund campaigns which conservatively cost several millions to run. Go Vegan World and the Eden Sanctuary are very reluctant to provide full transparency about who is paying for all of this. The question is why are they so shy about being open on this?” sector,” he said.

Despite the recent inclement weather conditions and hazardous road conditions, almost 400 animals were presented for sale on Thursday last. For those who braved the weather conditions they were not disappointed as a great trade prevailed for all categories of stock on offer.

In the bullock ring, quality lighter stores peaked at €3.19 a kilo while the heavier lots made up to €2,270. The heifer ring had a similar tone with stores making up to €3.48 a kilo and heavier lots topped out at €2,060.

The weanling rings witnessed the bulls making up to €3.42 and heifer weanling topped out at €3.40 a kilo. The cows with calves at foot made up to €1,760 while springer cows peaked at €3,020. Increased numbers of dry cows saw prices peak at €2,490.

Sales continue at Castlerea Mart today (Thursday) with our weekly sale of bullocks, heifers, cows, calves, runners, and weanlings.

All sales commence at 11 am with three rings in operation.

Sample prices for bullocks: Ch 490kgs €1560, Lm 455kgs €1420, Lm 545kgs €1620, Sim 530kgs €1600, Ch 510kgs €1530, AA 585kgs €1740, AA 550kgs €1720, Ch 630kgs €1950, AA 755kgs €2270, Lm 685kgs €2150, Lm 650kgs €2050.

Heifers: BBx 425kgs €1350, Ch 415kgs €1250, Lm 355kgs €1050, Lm 470kgs €1530, BBx 430kgs €1500, Lm 440kgs €1420, AAx 685kgs €2060, AA 605kgs €1950, Ch 595kgs €1940.

Meanwhile, Teagasc has forecasted margins from sheep production to decline further this year with current prices insufficient to cover the increased costs of production.

The outlook for 2023 forecasts feed prices to increase by a further 10 per cent with no weakening of fertiliser prices which have increased 195 per cent on 2021 levels. Other direct costs are forecasted to increase by 4 per cent in 2023.

Kevin Comiskey said there is real concern within the sector for the spring trade and action needs to be taken immediately to support farmers.

Dry cows: Fr 480kgs €990, Fr 490kgs €940, Lmx 870kgs €2490, Ch 805kgs €2250, Lmx 790kgs €2100, Lmx 740kgs €2080, Lm 735kgs €2040, Fr 710kgs €1930, Hex 795kgs €1860,

Weanling bulls: Ch 295kgs €1000, Ch 280kgs €960, Lm 280kgs €880, Lm 250kgs €820, Chx 465kgs €1460, Lm 445kgs €1400, Lm 430kgs €1400, Ch 390kgs €1380, Lm 320kgs €1000, Lm 385kgs €1320, Sim 440kgs €1270.

Weanling heifers: Ch 270kgs €920, Ch 235kgs €760, Lm 255kgs €800, Lm 335kgs €1050, Lm 335kgs €990, Lm 400kgs €1180.

The Department of Agriculture has confirmed to IFA that capital allowances on slurry storage will be available for three years, according to the association’s Farm Business Chair, Rose Mary McDonagh.

Then Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, announced on Budget Day a scheme of accelerated capital allowances for the construction of slurry storage.

In the Budget 2023, Tax Policy Changes document that was subsequently published by the Department of Finance, it states that this scheme would be open for three years. The cost of the facilities could be written off over two years, rather than the seven-year period that previously applied for such capital expenditure.

Mary McDonagh said: “It’s understood that the eligible period for these measures was initially set for six months - to June 2023 - in the Finance Bill due to the EU Agricultural Block Exemption Regulations (ABER) requiring updating as happens with many taxation measures related to agriculture.

“Subsequent to the publication of the Finance Bill, in November last, IFA received confirmation from the Department of Agriculture that once the ABER is approved, the Department of Finance will put the appropriate legislation in place to extend this measure beyond June 30th next, as intended”.

Friday, January 27th at 11 a.m.